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I am planning on using Preparing for my 9yo ds next fall. I've gotten my hands on a guide, and everything looks great -- but I'm unsure how to know what dictation level is right for him? He has done dictation ala PLL, and memory verse dictation, and typically does very well....how do I decide where to start him?

Deb

I started my dd in the hardest of the levels and planned on bumping her down within the first 2 units if she was making too many errors. It ended up being the right place for her so she stayed there. I didn't want to start off too easy and have her not be challenged and have to think about the dictation pieces and lose the opportunity she'd have in the harder level. That is what I did. Others may have other opinions, but that is what I did.

I did the opposite, LOL. I started my dd on an easy level. When it was too easy for her, I moved up half a level. I kept doing that until I felt the pieces were challenging for my dd but not frustrating. If she had to repeat a dictation passage more than a couple times, and was getting upset about it, I knew that it was probably too difficult and would back it up a bit. Finally, I knew we had reached the right level because she wasn't flying through them but had to focus during the dictation process.

Deb,

The ladies have already done a great job of helping you! Truly, either of the methods they have shared will work! With dictation, try to remember that we don't want kiddos missing/repeating more than an average of two passages a week, or they are placed in too high of a level and will quickly be frustrated. On the other hand, if you have a natural speller, as my older kiddos's are, then you don't want to jump ahead so far in the dictation levels just to hit a spot where they are missing several passages a week, as they are just natural spellers and should rarely miss a passage all year (or they will be frustated as an easy area has not become incredibly hard, just because we jumped them too far forward). I know that seems like a paradox, but it is truly the dance of finding what fits each child's needs.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks.

So.....I guess I'll just look at the passages and see what looks like what might be right?

He is a natural speller, and also seems to memorize things after looking at them pretty well. So I'm really not sure how this will go. I will maybe try and see where there may be words he might not know as well, but not many of them? Though I'll admit I like the first dictation of level 3...maybe we will start there.

Deb,

For a 9 year old who spells well, but is new to studied dictation, I agree that Level 3 is a good starting point.

Blessings,
Carrie